Tarantino style

Bond bids farewell too

Final thoughts as boss

The final thoughts of Birmingham City boss Harry Redknapp didn’t sound like a manager who was ready to fall on his sword.

The Blues boss was clearly angry at his side’s defeat, but spoke of his pride at the job he was in.

Speaking after the loss to Preston, before his departure was announced, Redknapp told BBC WM 95.6: “Fans deserve better and that was my motivation to carry on this season.

“I do not come to work because I need the money, I enjoy the job and leaving home at 5.15 every morning. I would love to be the manager to bring some success to Birmingham.”

19:56Mat Kendrick

Any of these take your fancy?

Here’s some of the names being linked with the St Andrew’s vacancy.

Let us know which of these candidates, if any, you would prefer.

19:55Mat Kendrick

The contenders

19:53

Carsley lowdown

Former Birmingham City captain Lee Carsley has been named caretaker boss following the shock departure of Harry Redknapp today.

Carsley returned to Blues earlier this year when he was named as Head Professional Development Coach, alongside Richard Beale.

The 43-year-old spent two years at St Andrew’s between 2008 and 2010.

In his first season he helped Blues to promotion from the Championship, winning the Player of the Season award.

His second campaign was plagued by injury and he was released at the end of the 2009/10 season having made 53 appearances in total.

After working on his coaching badges as a player, Carsley took up a role with Coventry City’s Under-18s side before being appointed caretaker manager on two occasions.

He also coached at Sheffield United and with England youth sides between Under-15s and Under-21s level.

Carsley was appointed head coach of Brentford from September 2015 to November 2015, a spell which saw him win the Championship Manager of the Month award for October.

He moved to Manchester City in August 2016.

In the briefest of statements on Blues’ official Twitter account, the club confirmed: “Lee Carsley, Blues Head Professional Development Coach, will step in as Caretaker Manager.”

19:28Brian Dick

Blues' statement

This is what the club have put out

“The Club has tonight parted company with manager Harry Redknapp.

“Unfortunately due to the poor start to the campaign which sees the Club second from bottom of the Championship, we are left with no choice but to terminate the contract of the manager with immediate effect.

“We thank him for all his efforts and wish him good luck for the future.

“Lee Carsley, Blues Head Professional Development Coach, will step in as Caretaker Manager.

“There will be no further comment at this time.”

19:27

Harry's last quotes

Redknapp told BBC WM 95.6: “Fans deserve better and that was my motivation to carry on this season.

“I do not come to work because I need the money, I enjoy the job and leaving home at 5.15 every morning. I would love to be the manager to bring some success to Birmingham.”

19:09Brian Dick

Carsley

Lee Carsley joined Blues in the summer as Head of Professional Development.

He’s had a few periods in management before, twice at Coventry in a caretaker capacity.

Those came in 2012 and 2013, following the departures of Andy Thorn and Mark Robins respectively.

He also stood in at Brentford and won the October 2015 Championship Manager of the Month.

At Griffin Park he won five of his ten matches as stand in.

19:09

Harry's record at Blues

Last season

Villa 1 Blues 0

Blues 2 Huddersfield 0

Bristol City 0 Blues 1

This season

Ipswich 1 Blues 0

Blues 2 Britol City 1

Blues 0 Bolton 0

Burton 2 Blues 1

Blues 0 Reading 2

Norwich 1 Blues 0

Leeds 2 Blues 0

Blues 1 Preston 3

League Cup

Blues 5 Crawley 1

Blues 1 Bournemouth 2

19:01

Reactions

19:01KEY EVENT

Next man up

19:00Brian Dick

The scene at St Andrew's

I’m still at St Andrew’s, I’m being asked to leave as we speak, and can’t get an answer out of anyone as to what’s gone on.

There’s clearly a lot of talk about Harry going and it does seem genuine - but as to an official line or an explanation it’s all quiet on that front.

I’ll stick around as long as I can to see what I can find out.

18:44

It's true

18:10

Disintegration

Harry Redknapp bemoaned Birmingham City’s second half ‘disintegration’ as they shipped three goals in 12 minutes to lose for the fifth Championship game running.

The Blues boss was satisfied with the first 45 minutes his team put in, which saw them go into the break a goal up after Maxime Colin’s stunner.

However, the home team were never in it during the second period - as Daniel Johnson, Jordan Hugill and Tom Barkhuizen shreded their defence.

“I thought we played well first half, I only asked them to do exactly the same in the second half as what we did first,” Redknapp said.

“We started the second half well, on the front foot, we get a corner then after that they came on to us and we couldn’t handle it.

“Basically they were quicker than us in the second half, sharper, and we disintegrated a bit really.

“The goals came from basic errors. What can you do about it?

“You stand there as a manager, what can I do about that? What can anyone do. It was just rank, poor play from us that cost us goals. It was very difficult.”

The player ratings

Alex Neil speaks...

I was pleased with the second half not so much the first half. I am not so sure Birmingham were much better when they got the goal and I made the players aware of that at half time. We won second balls, won tackles. I can’t speak highly enough about this squad. A few things have happened in the last week and we have managed to come here overcome that and go out and win the game. Winning away from home is not like winning at home, it takes a bit more bottle and I thought we had that in spades in the second half.

17:18

Full time report

Birmingham City were stunned by three goals in 12 second half minutes to lose their fifth consecutive Championship match.

Harry Redknapp’s men were leading 1-0 at half time thanks to Maxime Colin’s sensational individual goal.

However, Preston came roaring back after the restart and strikes from Daniel Johnson, Jordan Hugill and Tom Barkhuizen condemned Birmingham to a thoroughly dispiriting afternoon.

Initially Redknapp handed home debuts to four of the six new players who’d joined since Birmingham were last at St Andrew’s.

However, just three minutes in he was forced to give a fifth, as Jason Lowe hobbled off to be replaced by the promising Liam Walsh.

And Preston nearly capitalised on that early disruption when Harlee Dean turned a left wing cross towards his own goal and needed David Stockdale to parry.